Morning journal and courier., 1887-09-15
A HORRIBLE DEN.
One of Shanghai's Attractions to
 

One of Shanghai's Attractions to a
 Chinaman.
 A writer in a recent number ot the North China Herald describes the Nan-gin-tsin, the greatest opium den 1n China. It is known throughout the length and breadth of the empire to the Chinese, and it helps to make Shanghai regarded as a city af- fording the same opportunities for pleasure and dissipation that Paris does to the typ ical Frenchnan. It is situated in the French concession in Shanghai, within 8 stone's throw of the wall of the native city, within which no opium shops are supposed to exist. The character of the place could not be guessed from it's exter- nal appearance, although the air of the people passing in and cut might suggest it. The throngs visiting it represent all sta tions of life, from the coolie to the wealthy merchant or the small mandarin. It is with difficulty that one gets inside through the crowds of people hanging round the door. Those who have not the requisite number of copper cash to procure the bane- fu pipe watch with horrible wistfulness each of the more affluent pass in with a nervous, hurried step, or totter out wear ing that peculiar dazed expression which comes after the smokers craving has been satisfied and his transient pleasure has passed away. One requires strong stomach to stand the siokening fumes with which the air inside is thickened. The clouds of smoke, the dim light from the numerous colored lamps, the numbers of reclining forms with distorted faces bent over the small flames at which the pipes are lighted, cause the novice a sickening sensation. But as soon as the eye becomes accustomed to the scene it is noticed that the place is got up on an expen- sive scale. In the center of ths lower room hangs one of the finest of Chinese lamps, the ceiling is of richly carved wood, while the painted walls are thickly inlaid with pscu- liarly marked marble, which gives the idea of unfinished landscape sketches. Numerous doors on all side lead to the smokers apart ments. In the outer portion of the building stands counter covered with little boxes of the drug ready for smoking, which 8 dozen assistants are kept busy handing out to the servants who wait upon the habitues of the place. The average daily receipts are said to be about one thousand dollars. The smok ing apartments are divided into four classes. In the cheapest are coolies, who pay about fourpence for their smoke. In the dearest the smoke costs about seYenpence. The drug supplied in each class is much the same both in quality and quantity; it is the diff ference in the pipes that regulates the price The best kinds are made of ivory. the stem being often inlaid with stones, and rendered most costly by reason of elaborate carving; the cheapest kinds are made simply of hard wood. The rooms also are furnished accord
 ing to class. In the most expensive the lounge upon which the smoker reclines is of fine velvet, with pillows of the same materi- al the frames of each couch are inlaid with mother of pearl and jade, and the whole air of these rooms is one of sensuous luxury. There is also a number of private rooms. In the poorer section will be seen many wearers of the tattered yellow and gray robes of Buddhist and Tavist priests. Wo- men form a fair proportion of the smokers The common belief is that the opium sleep is attended by mild, pleasurable delirium, with brief glances of elysium; but this is the exception, not the rule. People smoke